Remarks by the President
The ROC will mark its centennial in just over 400 days. On October 10, our National Day, I announced the formal establishment of the Preparatory Committee for the Centenary Celebrations of the Republic of China, and asked Vice President Siew to serve as chairman. Today is the first general session of the committee and I am delighted by the enthusiastic participation of all committee members.
When our founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen led the revolution, he embraced the Three Principles of the People as the foremost objective in the establishment of the republic. Dr. Sun had long revered US President Abraham Lincoln's call for "government of the people, by the people, for the people." He referred often to these three concepts, and they are incorporated in the first article of the ROC Constitution.
The ROC's history over the past 98 years has seen considerable blood and tears. For the first 38 years after its founding in mainland China, the ROC was enveloped in war and chaos, including strife among warlord satrapies, Japanese aggression, and civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists. Official statistics estimate that over 3 million ROC soldiers died during World War II, over 20 million civilians were injured or killed, and over 100 million people were driven from their homes. In the years following, several million people were killed in the Chinese civil war.
After relocating to Taiwan in 1949, the government worked to build a strong state and create a totally different situation here. Victory 60 years ago in the Battle of Kuningtou was crucial in this regard. Over 5,600 Nationalist and Communist soldiers died in this 56-hour standoff, not at all an unprecedented number of casualties for a single battle. But the historical significance of this fight was enormous, for it showed the Chinese Communists that a military landing on Taiwan would not be easy. The stability enjoyed by Taiwan in subsequent years, and its freedom from worry about invasion from the mainland, stem from the victory at Kuningtou. From that time forward, the two sides went their separate ways, and thus began a great political and economic experiment like none ever seen before.
What followed was the first period of extended peace in the history of the Republic of China. War casualties during any single battle over the years since the Battle of Kuningtou come to less than 5,000. This figure includes casualties during the August 23rd Artillery Battle in 1958, and is the fewest in any period since the ROC's founding. As a result, we've had an opportunity to promote national development in a peaceful environment. Taiwan is an island where natural resources are few and natural disasters are many, so the peace and prosperity achieved by the ROC on this island over the past 60 years is all the more remarkable.
Last year when I was elected president, I received a congratulatory message from then US President George W. Bush. What I found most touching was his statement that "Taiwan is a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world." These remarks were especially significant coming from a US president. Over 30 years ago when Taiwan did not have the financial means it does today, President Chiang Ching-kuo launched the 10 Major Infrastructure Projects, which were followed by the 12 Projects and then the 14 Projects. These undertakings greatly improved Taiwan's infrastructure, paving the way for the ROC to become a developed nation.
Today we are preparing to celebrate the nation's centenary. It is important that we continue forward with the unique spirit created over the past 60 years here. When I was Taipei City mayor I often remarked that "construction projects can make a city big, but only culture can make a city great." Today as president I say "national infrastructure projects can make a nation big, but only cultural infrastructure can make a nation great." Taiwan is without a doubt the leader in the ethnic Chinese world in terms of freedom, democracy, and openness. Our freedom of speech, democracy, and rapid and accurate electoral processes stand out among many nations.
Several weeks ago a gay pride parade was held in Taipei. In fact, Taipei City is viewed as an extremely hospitable city by the gay community. While this is only one example, it shows that Taipei has reached a new stage in terms of diversity. This is an important display of the power of Taiwan society.
I mentioned a special and important viewpoint on National Day this year. I believe that a key characteristic of Taiwan's development over the past 60 years has been the creation of a Chinese culture with Taiwan characteristics. Many aspects of this culture already existed in mainland China, but were re-interpreted here, leading to something totally new. Buddhism as practiced in Taiwan is a good example. It goes back thousands of years in mainland China, but in Taiwan is quite unique in that it is actively engaged with society, emphasizes volunteerism, and is professionally run. Different sects co-exist harmoniously and have taken Chinese Buddhism to the far corners of the world. However, their methods of preaching Buddhism are entirely different from those of the past. This is what we call the "Taiwan spirit." We see the values and examples of the people who fought for this land. Look at the examples of Lien Ya-tang, who wrote the General History of Taiwan, Chiang Wei-shui and Lin Hsien-tang, who struggled for civil rights some 80-90 years ago, Mona Rudao, chief of an indigenous tribe who fought against Japanese aggression, Lai Ho, who spread Taiwanese literature, Chen Cheng, who promoted land reform, K.T. Li and Sun Yun-suan, who were instrumental in Taiwan's economic transformation, and the heroes from such publications as the Free China magazine to Formosa magazine, who sought democracy and human rights over the decades. The principles embraced by these people over the past century make these individuals representative of the Taiwan spirit.
The Taiwan spirit stresses co-existence, ethnic harmony, and respect for diversity, and has enriched Chinese culture. As we prepare to celebrate the nation's centenary, we want the government, from the central to the local level, and both the public and private sectors, to display the Taiwan spirit in their preparations.
I have strived since taking office to establish an upstanding and clean government. I want our government to serve the people, and I seek to create a Taiwan that is based on technology and culture. I want our government to continue to put Taiwan first for the benefit of the people. I want the battleground of the Taiwan Strait to be transformed into a bastion of peace and prosperity. I seek to expand space for the ROC internationally on the basis of stability in cross-strait relations. We also hope that the government and the private sector will work together to create the foundation for our second century as we celebrate the conclusion to our first one.
The Preparatory Committee for the Centenary Celebrations of the Republic of China has an important mission, which is to forge a spirit of unity among our people and put our nation's cultural prowess on display. Let us all further cultivate the Taiwan spirit and create a Chinese culture with Taiwan characteristics. I hope that over the coming year-plus period, everyone will work together to exhibit the power and achievements forged over the past 100 years and show the world how Taiwan intends to make a contribution in the future.